‘I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone who has joined us,’ he began, in an accent that hailed not far from where hers originated in Brooklyn. ‘A lot of you have already been working hard since the New Year to bring together this brilliant cast and fantastic crew and I have no doubt every single person will dedicate themselves one hundred and ten per cent to making this film a success. It’s going to be hard work, but you are all up for the challenge. So, enjoy your meal. And then we’re going to have some fun switching tables – no don’t groan—’ he laughed ‘—so you can all get to know each other. Enjoy!’
Everyone clapped and as Lila joined in, she glanced around, trying not to let the nerves show on her face. She was going to be separated from the only people she vaguely knew. It was fine.It’s the whole point of this evening,she repeated to herself. And maybe she’d come across Rowan too. He’d be a friendly face at least. A friendly, gorgeous face.
Actually, she wasn’t sure whether that idea made her feel better or more nervous.
Her stomach definitely didn’t feel up to the meal, no matter how lovely the dish she’d ordered was:agghiotta di pesce spada –fresh swordfish from the port with pine nuts, sultanas, capers, olives and tomatoes.
Jackie began telling them about the trip she intended to take up to the top of Mount Etna when she got time – it was an easy one apparently, to add to her collection of climbing. That segued into a story Sibyl had about doing a fashion shoot years ago in Iceland just before the volcano there erupted and the ash grounded the planes, with all of them recounting where they had been on their different jobs around the world when that happened.
Lila sipped on her wine and hung on every word, wishing she had something,anything, to contribute to their tales of adventure but given that she’d been fourteen, it didn’t add much to the conversation, apart from them all moaning about how old she’d just made them feel. Lila was sure Ruth and Jackie weren’t that much older than her, but it was enough apparently for her to be the baby of the group.
But shewasat least being recognised as a member of the group. If that had to be her role, she’d take it.
They’d barely finished their first glass of wine when Sally, the production assistant, came walking around, giving them different numbers, and announcing that they were all about to switch tables. Lila tipped the rest of her drink back, and then gathered her handbag and her courage.
On the first table, Lila found herself sitting with a couple of assistants, wardrobe and a sound technician. There was a conversation prompt, which helped, but just as she was starting to get settled, they were called on to move again, this time to a table with sound, cameramen and grips. She was on her fourth glass of wine by the time they called out the switch for the third time andthathad helped even more.
Outside the sun had disappeared, leaving just the glow of lights against the deep purple sky. Her next table was in the corner, closer to the terrace and she weaved her way through all the people moving too; a chorus of chairs squeaking and the voices louder and boisterous. She was pleasantly fuzzy but distracted by the cool breeze coming in from the terrace and wishing she could just take a moment to get some air and settle herself down.
Instead, she searched for an empty chair at the next table like the rule-abiding citizen she always was and when she looked over to see who else was in the group, it washim, directly opposite her: Rowan Walker.
He looked good in this light – not that he hadn’t looked amazing even in the glow from a cell phone, or the sickly fluorescents of the production office – but here in the ambient lighting, all the golden tones of his complexion and natural highlights in his brown hair shone with warmth.
A curl of heat echoed inside her stomach, and she hit the table leg with her shoe as she sat down, sloshing a bit of wine from her glass onto her skirt. Thank God it was black, so she didn’t have to worry about stains. When she looked up again, his eyes were on her; dark honey depths, like a promise of the stillness and calm she’d been looking for, if she just let herself be drawn in.
‘Hi, Rowan,’ she said, altogether too loudly and every person on the table – including Wesley, the director – stopped talking and turned to look at her.
Kill me now.
Rowan
It had only been a day since he arrived in Sicily, but Rowan had felt the tension of his week with Cassandra falling away with every hour that passed. And when he first saw Lila appear at the table at the restaurant, shiny black hair in loose waves brushing her shoulders, and a look on her face that was somehow mirroring his own feelings of relief and pleasure, a thrill had gone up his spine. Her striking green eyes had met his as she said “hi, Rowan” like they were old friends. He hadn’t expected that considering how shy she’d been before – and he liked it. A lot.
But he was not allowed to.
He was supposed to be dating Cassandra – a fact that at least three people had already mentioned to him. And he’d dutifully employed the “Mr Mysterious” technique Jayden had recommended. A wry smile and a “wouldn’t you like to know” type of comment, to avoid outright lying to people’s faces.
So, the word was out and making goo-goo eyes at a pretty MUA was not going to help his reputation in any way.
‘Do you two know each other?’ Marcus – one of the electricians – said, looking between Lila and Rowan. ‘I had the impression you’d only just started, Lila, and this is your first gig, right?’
‘Oh, yeah, no, I just had a trial week back in London,’ Lila stuttered, a rosy hue creeping over her cheekbones.
‘So, you met Rowan then?’ He cocked his head and Rowan wanted to kick him. Couldn’t he see he was embarrassing her?
‘Err, briefly, I think,’ Rowan answered instead, keeping it offhand but drawing the attention to himself.
Lila’s eyes skittered over his face and dropped to the tablecloth. Rowan wanted to kickhimselfthen, but what was he supposed to do? Make out like they were long-lost buddies after she’d just admitted she’d only been in London for a week.Hedidn’t think it was odd that she had reacted with such familiarity towards him – he was over the bloody moon and they’d been in an intense situation together – but it would definitely be questioned by others when the shoot hadn’t even started yet.
‘Well, I guess we should do some proper introductions then.’ Wesley took over in that gentle but authoritative manner he had, and everyone went around the table giving their names and what their jobs were. And the whole time Lila looked anywhere but at Rowan again. Which was for the best.
The wine was getting to all the people who were drinking it by this point, and the “ice-breaker” question about favourite sports had descended into a friendly argument between Jonathan, another actor, and Wesley, as they were both Yanks with an unhealthy obsession with basketball. Lila just sat there sipping her drink and when the time for switching tables came and went, apparently forgotten by a tipsy Sally, she said a quick word to Marcus and disappeared from the table.
Rowan tried not to watch her. It would not help matters if he followed her to talk to her in private. Better they appeared distant. Definitely.
‘Hey, where did our new girl go to?’ Wesley asked, when he and Jonathan had called a truce.
‘Bathroom. Although I think she was dying of boredom with all the sports talk.’ Marcus raised his eyebrows at Wesley. ‘Not sure she’s going to come back.’
